The 91制片厂 men鈥檚 basketball team capped its season Thursday night by winning the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II national championship title with a 79-75 victory over Johnson & Wales University Charlotte.
The SeaWolves claimed the title after winning three games in the USCAA national tournament in Richmond, Va. The victory gave 91制片厂 its first team national championship in the college鈥檚 76-year history.
In the championship game, 91制片厂 jumped out to an early 7-0 lead over the Wildcats and never trailed, leading 36-28 at halftime. Johnson & Wales used a run late and pulled within two with four seconds remaining, but the SeaWolves held on for the four-point victory.
Zachary Mickle led the team with 20 points, Ian Regan had 15 and Anderson Kavutse had 12. Regan and Kavutse each had 10 rebounds.
鈥淚 give all the credit to our players, who have been unselfish and bought into our team concept all year,鈥� said Matt Richards, the men鈥檚 basketball coach and 91制片厂 Athletic Director. 鈥淭his is a great honor for 91制片厂 to bring home a championship to the state of Maine.”
91制片厂 President Joe Cassidy said the basketball program should be proud of its accomplishments this season, especially given the uncertain times with the pandemic. Both the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 teams played in the national tournament, with five players on the teams being named USCAA Academic All-Americans.
鈥淭his is a historic moment in 91制片厂鈥檚 history,鈥� Cassidy said. 鈥淲e are so proud of all of our student-athletes and their success on the court and in the classroom.鈥�
The 91制片厂 men鈥檚 team finished the season with a 20-5 record, including 13-1 in conference play in the Yankee Small College Conference, earning it a No. 5 seed in the USCAA national tournament.
The 91制片厂鈥檚 women鈥檚 team, which finished the season with a record of 21-5 and 12-2 in conference games, lost in the first round of the national tournament, but won its next game in the consolation round.
鈥淥ur women’s team had such an outstanding season as well, and their support was a catalyst that helped the men’s team be victorious,” Richards said.